[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26298-26303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12134]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N072; FXES11140400000-189-FF04E00000]


Endangered Species; Recovery Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to 
comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities 
with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless a Federal 
permit is issued that allows such activities. The ESA requires that we 
invite public comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: We must receive written data or comments on the applications at 
the address given in ADDRESSES by July 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    Reviewing Documents: Documents and other information submitted with 
the applications are available for review, subject to the requirements 
of the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act. Submit a request for 
a copy of such documents to Karen Marlowe, 404-679-7097 (telephone) or 
404-679-7081 (fax); [email protected].
    Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit 
comments by any one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Regional Office, Ecological Services, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, 
GA 30345 (Attn: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator).
     Email: [email protected]. Please include your name and 
return address in your email message. If you do not receive a 
confirmation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that we have 
received your email message, contact us directly at the telephone 
number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator, 
404-679-7097 (telephone) or 404-679-7081 (fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We invite review and comment from local, 
State, and Federal agencies and the public on applications we have 
received for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered and 
threatened species under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and our 
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17. 
With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities that constitute take 
of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such 
activities. The ESA's definition of ``take'' includes hunting, 
shooting, harming, wounding, or killing and also such activities as 
pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting.

[[Page 26299]]

    A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or 
threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or for 
enhancement of propagation or survival of the species. These activities 
often include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. Our 
regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are 
found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for 
threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species, 
and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant species.

Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment

    Proposed activities in the following permit requests are for the 
recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in 
the wild. The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing 
these permits. Accordingly, we invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
agencies and the public to submit written data, views, or arguments 
with respect to these applications. The comments and recommendations 
that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are 
those supported by quantitative information or studies.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

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  Permit application
         No.                 Applicant          Species/numbers          Location              Activity            Type of take         Permit action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TE 065972-2..........  U.S. Forest Service,  Gray bat (Myotis      Ozark-St. Francis     Presence/absence      Bats: Enter          Renewal and
                        Russellville, AR.     grisescens),          National Forest       surveys.              hibernacula and      Amendment.
                                              Indiana bat (M.       lands, Arkansas.                            maternity roost
                                              sodalis), northern                                                caves, capture
                                              long-eared bat (M.                                                with mist nets,
                                              septentrionalis),                                                 handle, identify,
                                              Ozark big-eared bat                                               and release.
                                              (Corynorhinus                                                     American burying
                                              (=Plecotus)                                                       beetle: live-trap
                                              townsendii ingens),                                               and release.
                                              and American
                                              burying beetle
                                              (Nicrophorus
                                              americanus).
TE 171493-2..........  Memphis Zoo,          Dusky gopher frog     In captivity at       Genetic diversity     Collect toe clips    Renewal and
                        Memphis, TN.          (Rana sevosa).        Memphis Zoo,          study of captive      from captive-bred    Amendment.
                                                                    Memphis, TN;          frogs and post-       frogs; attach
                                                                    Toronto Zoo,          release survival      radio-transmitters
                                                                    Ontario, Canada;      and movement of       to monitor post-
                                                                    and, Omaha's Henry    captive-bred frogs.   release survival
                                                                    Doorly Zoo, Omaha,                          and movements of
                                                                    NE. In the wild in                          captive-bred
                                                                    Harrison County,                            metamorphs.
                                                                    Mississippi.
TE 237535-3..........  Bok Tower Gardens,    Dicerandra            Lake Wales National   Ex situ seed          Remove and reduce    Renewal.
                        Lake Wales, FL.       christmanii           Wildlife Refuge,      banking, artificial   to possession
                                              (Garrett's mint),     Florida.              propagation, seed     (collect) seeds
                                              Warea carteri                               germination and       and leaves.
                                              (Carter's mustard),                         storage research,
                                              and Lupinus                                 and population
                                              aridorum (Scrub                             augmentation.
                                              lupine).
TE 53149B-2..........  Hans Otto, Tucson,    Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arizona,     Presence/absence      Lesser long-nosed    Renewal.
                        AZ.                   grisescens),          Arkansas,             surveys and           bat: mist-net,
                                              Indiana bat (M.       Connecticut,          scientific research.  harp trap, hand-
                                              sodalis), Northern    Delaware, Florida,                          net, band, radio-
                                              long-eared bat (M.    Georgia, Illinois,                          tag, light tag,
                                              septentrionalis),     Indiana, Iowa,                              collect hair
                                              Ozark big-eared bat   Kansas, Kentucky,                           samples, collect
                                              (Corynorhinus         Maryland,                                   oral swabs, and
                                              townsendii ingens),   Massachusetts,                              wing punch. Other
                                              Virginia big-eared    Michigan,                                   bats: enter
                                              bat (C. t.            Minnesota,                                  hibernacula or
                                              virginianus),         Mississippi,                                maternity roost
                                              Lesser long-nosed     Missouri, Nebraska,                         caves, salvage
                                              bat (Leptonycteris    New Hampshire, New                          dead bats, capture
                                              curasoae              Jersey, New Mexico,                         with mist nets or
                                              yerbabuenae), and     New York, North                             harp traps,
                                              New Mexico meadow     Carolina, North                             handle, identify,
                                              jumping mouse         Dakota, Ohio,                               collect hair
                                              (Zapus hudsonius      Oklahoma,                                   samples, band,
                                              luteus).              Pennsylvania, Rhode                         radio tag, light
                                                                    Island, South                               tag, collect fecal
                                                                    Carolina, South                             material, apply
                                                                    Dakota, Tennessee,                          fungal lift tape,
                                                                    Texas, Vermont,                             swab, and wing
                                                                    Virginia, West                              punch. New Mexico
                                                                    Virginia,                                   jumping mouse:
                                                                    Wisconsin, and                              live-trap, handle,
                                                                    Wyoming.                                    and release.

[[Page 26300]]

 
TE 41910B-2..........  Scott Rush,           Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Louisiana,   Presence/absence      Bats: Capture with   Renewal and
                        Mississippi State     grisescens),          Mississippi, and      surveys and           mist nets or harp    Amendment.
                        University,           Indiana bat (M.       Tennessee.            scientific research.  traps, handle,
                        Starkville, MS.       sodalis), Northern                                                identify, and
                                              long-eared bat (M.                                                collect hair
                                              septentrionalis),                                                 samples. Gopher
                                              and Gopher tortoise                                               tortoise: scope
                                              (Gopherus                                                         burrows, capture,
                                              polyphemus).                                                      handle, mark,
                                                                                                                attach
                                                                                                                transmitters, and
                                                                                                                attach GPS loggers.
TE 75551C-0..........  Phillip Arant,        Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,    Presence/absence      Capture with mist-   New.
                        Lexington, KY.        grisescens),          Connecticut,          surveys.              nets or harp
                                              Indiana bat (M.       Delaware, District                          traps, handle,
                                              sodalis), and         of Columbia,                                identify, band,
                                              Northern long-eared   Florida, Georgia,                           and radio-tag.
                                              bat (M.               Illinois, Indiana,
                                              septentrionalis).     Iowa, Kansas,
                                                                    Kentucky, Maryland,
                                                                    Massachusetts,
                                                                    Michigan,
                                                                    Minnesota,
                                                                    Mississippi,
                                                                    Missouri, Nebraska,
                                                                    New Hampshire, New
                                                                    Jersey, New York,
                                                                    North Carolina,
                                                                    North Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                    Oklahoma,
                                                                    Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                    Island, South
                                                                    Carolina, South
                                                                    Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                    Texas, Vermont,
                                                                    Virginia, West
                                                                    Virginia,
                                                                    Wisconsin, and
                                                                    Wyoming.
TE 54578B-2..........  Mary Frazer,          Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,    Presence/absence      Enter hibernacula    Renewal.
                        Raleigh, NC.          grisescens),          Connecticut,          surveys, studies to   or maternity roost
                                              Indiana bat (M.       Delaware, District    document habitat      caves, salvage
                                              sodalis), Northern    of Columbia,          use, population       dead bats, capture
                                              long-eared bat (M.    Florida, Georgia,     monitoring, and to    with mist nets or
                                              septentrionalis),     Illinois, Indiana,    evaluate potential    harp traps,
                                              and Virginia big-     Iowa, Kansas,         impacts of white-     handle, identify,
                                              eared bat             Kentucky,             nose syndrome or      collect hair
                                              (Corynorhinus         Louisiana, Maine,     other threats.        samples, band,
                                              townsendii            Maryland,                                   radio tag, light-
                                              virginianus).         Massachusetts,                              tag, and wing-
                                                                    Michigan,                                   punch.
                                                                    Minnesota,
                                                                    Mississippi,
                                                                    Missouri, Montana,
                                                                    Nebraska, New
                                                                    Hampshire, New
                                                                    Jersey, New York.
                                                                    North Carolina,
                                                                    North Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                    Oklahoma,
                                                                    Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                    Island, South
                                                                    Carolina, South
                                                                    Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                    Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                    West Virginia,
                                                                    Wisconsin, and
                                                                    Wyoming.
TE 63633A-5..........  Biodiversity          Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,    Presence/absence      Enter hibernacula    Renewal.
                        Research Institute,   grisescens),          Connecticut,          surveys, studies to   or maternity roost
                        Portland, ME.         Indiana bat (M.       Delaware, District    document habitat      caves, salvage
                                              sodalis), and         of Columbia,          use, population       dead bats, capture
                                              Northern long-eared   Florida, Georgia,     monitoring, and to    with mist nets or
                                              bat (M.               Illinois, Indiana,    evaluate potential    harp traps,
                                              septentrionalis).     Iowa, Kansas,         impacts of white-     handle, identify,
                                                                    Kentucky,             nose syndrome or      collect hair
                                                                    Louisiana, Maine,     other threats.        samples, band,
                                                                    Maryland,                                   radio tag, and
                                                                    Massachusetts,                              wing-punch.
                                                                    Michigan,
                                                                    Minnesota,
                                                                    Mississippi,
                                                                    Missouri, Montana,
                                                                    Nebraska, New
                                                                    Hampshire, New
                                                                    Jersey, New York,
                                                                    North Carolina,
                                                                    North Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                    Oklahoma,
                                                                    Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                    Island, South
                                                                    Carolina, South
                                                                    Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                    Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                    West Virginia,
                                                                    Wisconsin, and
                                                                    Wyoming.

[[Page 26301]]

 
TE 75560C-0..........  Jeffrey Hawkins,      Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,    Presence/absence      Bats: Enter          New.
                        Richmond, KY.         grisescens),          Connecticut,          surveys, studies to   hibernacula or
                                              Indiana bat (M.       Delaware, Florida,    document habitat      maternity roost
                                              sodalis), Northern    Georgia, Illinois,    use, population       caves, salvage
                                              long-eared bat (M.    Indiana, Iowa,        monitoring, and to    dead bats, capture
                                              septentrionalis),     Kansas, Kentucky,     evaluate potential    with mist nets or
                                              Ozark big-eared bat   Louisiana, Maine,     impacts of white-     harp traps,
                                              (Corynorhinus         Maryland,             nose syndrome or      handle, identify,
                                              townsendii ingens),   Massachusetts,        other threats.        collect hair
                                              Virginia big-eared    Michigan,                                   samples, band,
                                              bat (C. t.            Minnesota,                                  radio tag, light-
                                              virginianus),         Mississippi,                                tag, swab, and
                                              blackside dace        Missouri, Montana,                          wing-punch. Fish
                                              (Phoxinus             Nebraska, New                               and Mussels:
                                              cumberlandensis),     Hampshire, New                              Capture, identify,
                                              and 36 species of     Jersey, New York,                           and release.
                                              freshwater mussels.   North Carolina,
                                                                    North Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                    Oklahoma,
                                                                    Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                    Island, South
                                                                    Carolina, South
                                                                    Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                    Texas, Vermont,
                                                                    Virginia, West
                                                                    Virginia,
                                                                    Wisconsin, and
                                                                    Wyoming.
TE 76455C-0..........  North Carolina State  Bartram's hairstreak  Florida.............  Scientific research   Locate eggs,         New.
                        University,           butterfly (Strymon                          on survival rates     monitor and
                        Raleigh, NC.          acis bartrami),                             of various life       measure
                                              Florida leafwing                            stages.               caterpillars,
                                              butterfly (Anaea                                                  enclose host
                                              troglodyta                                                        plants, release
                                              floridalis), Miami                                                emerging
                                              blue butterfly                                                    butterflies, and
                                              (Cyclargus                                                        salvage of
                                              (=Hemiargus)                                                      parasitized eggs
                                              thomasi                                                           and larvae.
                                              bethunebakeri), and
                                              Schaus swallowtail
                                              butterfly
                                              (Heraclides
                                              aristodemus
                                              ponceanus).
TE 77197C-0..........  U.S. Army Corps of    American burying      Logan County,         Presence/absence      Live-trap and        New.
                        Engineers, Little     beetle (Nicrophorus   Arkansas.             surveys and           release.
                        Rock, AR.             americanus).                                population
                                                                                          monitoring.
TE 77472C-0..........  Stream Techs, LLC,    Amber darter          Georgia.............  Presence/absence      Capture, handle,     New.
                        Athens, GA.           (Percina                                    surveys.              identify, and
                                              antesella), Etowah                                                release.
                                              darter (Etheostoma
                                              etowahae), Gulf
                                              moccasinshell
                                              (Medionidus
                                              penicillatus), Oval
                                              pigtoe (Pleurobema
                                              pyriforme), and
                                              Shinyrayed
                                              pocketbook
                                              (Lampsilis
                                              subangulata).
TE 88797B-1..........  Amber Nolder,         Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,    Presence/absence      Capture with mist    Amendment.
                        Luthersburg, PA.      grisescens).          Florida, Georgia,     surveys and studies   nets and harp
                                                                    Illinois, Indiana,    to document habitat   traps, handle,
                                                                    Kansas, Kentucky,     use.                  identify, band,
                                                                    Mississippi,                                mark with non-
                                                                    Missouri, North                             toxic paint, and
                                                                    Carolina, Oklahoma,                         radio-tag.
                                                                    Tennessee,
                                                                    Virginia, and West
                                                                    Virginia.
TE 824723-10.........  Reed Bowman,          Florida grasshopper   Florida.............  Predator control,     Fire ant control     Amendment.
                        Archbold Biological   sparrow (Ammodramus                         nest monitoring,      around nest sites,
                        Station, Venus, FL.   savannarum                                  disease screening,    installation of
                                              floridanus).                                emergency actions     predator exclusion
                                                                                          associated with       fences on nests,
                                                                                          severe weather, and   installation of
                                                                                          captive propagation.  nest cameras,
                                                                                                                collection of
                                                                                                                blood samples,
                                                                                                                raising nests to
                                                                                                                reduce mortality
                                                                                                                associated with
                                                                                                                flooding, cross-
                                                                                                                fostering of eggs
                                                                                                                and nestlings, and
                                                                                                                collection of
                                                                                                                eggs, nestlings,
                                                                                                                juveniles, and
                                                                                                                adults.

[[Page 26302]]

 
TE 78383C-0..........  Joel Casto,           Red-cockaded          Apalachicola          Population            Capture, band,       New.
                        Crawfordville, FL.    woodpecker            National Forest       monitoring,           translocate,
                                              (Picoides borealis).  Florida.              population            monitor nest
                                                                                          management, and       cavities, install
                                                                                          translocation.        and monitor
                                                                                                                artificial nest
                                                                                                                cavities, and
                                                                                                                install
                                                                                                                restrictors.
TE 32397A-3..........  James Godwin, Auburn  Black Warrior         Alabama.............  Presence/absence      Capture, handle,     Amendment.
                        University, Auburn,   waterdog (Necturus                          surveys, genetic      identify, and
                        AL.                   alabamensis).                               analyses,             collect tissue
                                                                                          population analysis.  sample (tail tip).
TE 37886B-1..........  Civil &               Nashville crayfish    Tennessee...........  Presence/absence      Capture, handle,     Renewal.
                        Environmental         (Orconectes shoupi).                        surveys.              identify, and
                        Consultants, Inc.,                                                                      release.
                        Franklin, TN.
TE 096554-4..........  James Robinson,       Blackside dace        Kentucky and          Presence/absence      Capture, handle,     Renewal and
                        Lexington, KY.        (Phoxinus             Tennessee.            surveys.              identify, and        Amendment.
                                              cumberlandensis),                                                 release.
                                              Cumberland darter
                                              (Etheostoma
                                              susanae), and
                                              Kentucky arrow
                                              darter (Etheostoma
                                              spilotum).
TE 100012-3..........  Michael Reynolds,     Green sea turtle      Baldwin and Mobile    Monitor and protect   Locate, monitor,     Renewal.
                        Share the Beach,      (Chelonia mydas),     Counties, Alabama.    nests.                excavate, and
                        Gulf Shores, AL.      Kemp's ridley sea                                                 relocate nests;
                                              turtle                                                            temporarily retain
                                              (Lepidochelys                                                     nestlings; and,
                                              kempi), and                                                       release nestlings.
                                              Loggerhead sea
                                              turtle (Caretta
                                              caretta).
TE 102418-3..........  Florida Army          Red-cockaded          Camp Blanding Joint   Presence/absence      Red-cockaded         Renewal and
                        National Guard,       woodpecker            Training Center,      surveys and           woodpecker:          Amendment.
                        Starke, FL.           (Picoides             Starke, FL.           population            Monitor nest
                                              borealis), Eastern                          management.           cavities, capture,
                                              indigo snake                                                      band, release, and
                                              (Drymarchon corais                                                install artificial
                                              couperi).                                                         nest cavities.
                                                                                                                Eastern indigo
                                                                                                                snake: Scope
                                                                                                                burrows, capture,
                                                                                                                handle, and
                                                                                                                release.
TE 002507-6..........  Florida Forest        Red-cockaded          Florida.............  Population            Capture, band,       Renewal.
                        Service,              woodpecker                                  management and        translocate,
                        Brooksville, FL.      (Picoides borealis).                        monitoring.           monitor nest
                                                                                                                cavities,
                                                                                                                construct and
                                                                                                                monitor artificial
                                                                                                                nest cavities and
                                                                                                                restrictors.
TE 81202C-0..........  Michael Maltba,       Gray bat (Myotis      Alabama, Arkansas,    Presence/absence      Enter hibernacula    New.
                        Whitesburg, KY.       grisescens),          Connecticut,          surveys and studies   and maternity
                                              Indiana bat (M.       Delaware, Florida,    to document habitat   roost caves,
                                              sodalis), and         Georgia, Illinois,    use.                  salvage dead bats,
                                              Northern long-eared   Indiana, Iowa,                              capture with mist
                                              bat (M.               Kansas, Kentucky,                           nets and harp
                                              septentrionalis).     Maryland,                                   traps, handle,
                                                                    Massachusetts,                              band, radio-tag,
                                                                    Michigan,                                   collect hair
                                                                    Minnesota,                                  samples, wing-
                                                                    Mississippi,                                punch, and light-
                                                                    Missouri, Nebraska,                         tag.
                                                                    New Hampshire, New
                                                                    Jersey, New York,
                                                                    North Carolina,
                                                                    North Dakota, Ohio,
                                                                    Oklahoma,
                                                                    Pennsylvania, Rhode
                                                                    Island, South
                                                                    Carolina, South
                                                                    Dakota, Tennessee,
                                                                    Texas, Vermont,
                                                                    Virginia, West
                                                                    Virginia, and
                                                                    Wisconsin.
TE 142294-5..........  William Holimon,      Red-cockaded          Alabama, Arkansas,    Population            Capture, band,       Renewal.
                        Little Rock, AR.      woodpecker            Florida, Georgia,     management and        monitor nest
                                              (Picoides borealis).  Louisiana,            monitoring.           cavities,
                                                                    Mississippi, North                          construct and
                                                                    Carolina, Oklahoma,                         monitor artificial
                                                                    South Carolina, and                         nest cavities and
                                                                    Texas.                                      restrictors, and
                                                                                                                translocate.
TE 027344-3..........  Chattahoochee-Oconee  Red-cockaded          Chattahoochee-Oconee  Population            Monitor nest         Renewal.
                        National Forest,      woodpecker            National Forest,      management and        cavities, and
                        Monticello, GA.       (Picoides borealis).  Georgia.              monitoring.           construct and
                                                                                                                monitor artificial
                                                                                                                nest cavities and
                                                                                                                restrictors.

[[Page 26303]]

 
TE 84861C-0..........  Power South Energy    Choctaw bean          Alabama.............  Presence/absence      Remove from the      New.
                        Cooperative,          (Villosa                                    surveys.              substrate, handle,
                        Andalusia, AL.        choctawensis),                                                    identify, return
                                              fuzzy pigtoe                                                      to substrate, and
                                              (Pleurobema                                                       salvage relic
                                              strodeanum), narrow                                               shells.
                                              pigtoe (Fusconaia
                                              escambia), southern
                                              kidneyshell
                                              (Ptychobranchus
                                              jonesi), and
                                              southern sandshell
                                              (Hamiota australis).
TE 61981B-3..........  The Peregrine Fund,   Puerto Rican sharp-   Puerto Rico.........  Captive propagation   Collect eggs and     Amendment.
                        Boise, ID.            shinned hawk                                and reintroduction.   nestlings for
                                              (Accipiter striatus                                               captive
                                              venator).                                                         propagation.
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    Authority: We provide this notice under the authority of section 
10(c) of the ESA.

Aaron Valenta,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Southeast 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-12134 Filed 6-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P